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Chavez's legacy inspires Guadalupe youths
by
Dianna M. Náñez
Cesar Chavez's campaign for human and worker rights moved a nation.
Presidential candidates, celebrities and political leaders held rallies
and marked Chavez's birthday Monday by calling for a national holiday
honoring his legacy.
In a quieter and more colorful way, students from a Guadalupe elementary
school celebrated Tempe's Cesar Chavez Day and the memory of the United
Farm Workers union leader.
The unlikely story of an Arizona-born son of migrant farm workers who
became an icon inspired Frank Elementary School students. The students
etched their aspirations in crayon for Tempe's third annual Cesar E.
Chavez Coloring Contest.
"Cesar Chavez has a calling. What's yours?" said Mayor Hugh Hallman,
explaining the theme of the contest sponsored through a partnership
between the city and school.
The winners, two students from each grade, were honored at Thursday's
Tempe City Council meeting.
A generation of future leaders shared dreams with teachers, parents and
council members.
Mireya Miranda, 6, held up a stick-figure picture of herself as a
professional soccer player.
Anthony Vargas, 6, wants to be a teacher. The bashful kindergartner
stood close to his proud teacher, Rachel Holderbach, as Hallman shook
his hand.
Vargas' mom, Vanessa, and dad, Anthony Sr., cheered.
"I think it teaches him to be proud that he's Hispanic," Vanessa said of
the contest. "And Cesar Chavez did help a lot of people."
Tempe Fire Chief Cliff Jones told an aspiring young firefighter it is
"the best job there is." A boy with his sights on police work tried on a
Tempe officer's helmet.
Cloaked in judicial robes, Judge Louraine Arkfeld had Daniela Peinado, a
pig-tailed first-grader and aspiring judge, in awe.
Elia Garza, Daniela's grandmother, said she was glad her granddaughter
was learning about Chavez, who died in 1993.
"I was from his time," she said. "It (Chavez's history) encourages the
kids to further themselves."
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